Arctic Tale DVD Review

A coming of age eco-travelogue about struggling furry critters doing their thing over at the North Pole, Arctic Tale may be susceptible to an identity crisis of its own.

Having followed on the paws of groundbreaking environmental advocacy cinematic fare like March Of The Penguins and Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, Arctic Tale spontaneously recalls both while striving like its two endangered wilderness newborn principals, polar bear Nanu and walrus Seela, to forge its own unique screen presence.

At the same time, the striking visuals that sweep across both the landscape and awesome natural world beneath, compete for center stage with the film’s critical ecological cautionary warning pertaining to the careless harming of the planet, and the ensuing global warming that is spelling doom for these exquisite creatures.

Queen Latifah adds a touch of cool while jazzing up the proceedings as narrator. And among the crowded field of no less than five writers and directors, Al Gore’s own human species offspring Kristin, in a tale coincidentally about family influences, weighs in as one of the many screen scribes.

Paramount Home Entertainment

Rated G

DVD Features: The Making of Arctic Tale: A promotional overview, with additional footage and time-lapse photography; Featurette: Are We There Yet? World Adventure: Polar Bear Spotting: Segment from National Geographic TV about a children’s field trip to see polar bears in the wilds; Trailer and Trailer Previews. Queen Latifah’s narration comes in DD 5.1 and also DD 2.0 Surround.

Prairie Miller is a New York multimedia journalist online, in print and radio, who reviews movies and conducts in-depth interviews. She can also be heard on WBAI/Pacifica National Radio Network’s Arts Express.